Into?

by North Morgan

You know Konrad from your various social feeds – sun kissed, gym ripped and always having a better time than you. Or is he?

Konrad Platt needed to get out of town. Heartbroken after his boyfriend left him for another man, Konrad abandoned his life in London for the warm sun and blue surf of LA. Here he attends parties in the Hollywood Hills filled with handsome men and beautiful women, snorts mountains of Adderall, and dances the weekends away at Coachella with each move endlessly documented on social media. He mends his broken heart through dating apps, constantly scrolling through profiles and chatting with a seemingly endless supply of men, each one handsomer than the next. But when one captures his heart, a twisted modern romance takes root that’s thrilling, confusing, and devastating – revealing that underneath this perfectly curated profile is a man desperate for real connection.

In Into? North Morgan shines a coolly mesmerizing light on the modern generation of gay men that are living firmly outside the closet, freed from the shadow of AIDS and elevated by popular culture, but plagued by a new set of problems, insecurities and self-destructions. As the men of Into? swipe right from bed to bed, North Morgan spins a darkly hilarious, and shockingly perceptive story of excess and love that’s like nothing you’ve ever read.

Genres: Fiction, LGBT, Queer, Gay, Audiobook, Contemporary, M M Romance

363 pages, Hardcover

First published May 22, 2018

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

First my caveat. I won “Into?” on Goodreads. I’ll give it an honest and fair review.

“Into?” is told from the point of view of Konrad, a 30+ gay man who is part of the urban, gay, club scene. He is located in LA for most of the book but location really doesn’t matter to the group he belongs to. They all know each other or know someone who knows someone, and everyone in their social group moves easily between cities. Social media, partying, drugs and the gym are their lives.

The first thing that struck me about this book was the style of writing that North Morgan used. It reads something like a diary but more like Konrad is talking with a friend. There are a lot of run on sentences and a lot of “and then we did this,” “and then we went there.” Almost every chapter starts with sentences like “Tuesday morning I did this,” “Sunday afternoon we went there, even though the book takes place over approximately a year and a half. This gives the book a sort of ennui that perfectly reflects Konrad’s life and how he feels about it.

Before I leave you with the impression that the book is boring, I will say that it’s far from it. Konrad may be self-absorbed but he is also self-aware. This makes the reader care a great deal about Konrad and hope for the best for him. I found myself very concerned for Konrad when the one longer term relationship (one month) that he gets involved in turns out to be borderline abusive. I wanted to scream at Konrad to run far away from that loser. Everytime he met someone or even spent time with platonic friends I hoped that something would happen and he would meet the man of his dreams.

I won’t discuss the ending of the book but I will say that the ending isn’t the important part of “Into?” The important part is how Konrad lives his life and how he feels about that and his seeming inability to change what he says he wants to change.

I would recommend this book not only for those who like books focusing on gay characters but for those who are interested in and fascinated by that amorphous thing called the human condition.

[Peter Tressel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads win. The main character Konrad Platt is hopelessly hopeful. Where many of us would cut our losses or not go down a doomed path, Konrad is irrevocably compelled to follow dead end after dead end, particularly if it’s what he’s into. On the surface, this reads as a gay novel but it’s bigger than that, because while “Into?” uses a particular subset of gay culture as a venue, the themes of attraction, irresistibility, and the destruction that happens when everything goes too far—are universal themes. I’d recommend this book to gay and straight friends alike. Konrad gets “into” plenty and never comes out unscathed. Emotional damage has never been more entertaining.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. Written in a stream of consciousness style, it had a slow and repetitive pacing that was somewhat annoying but that was also was part of the point of the book. The endless tedium of the search for something meaningful. Well-written with interesting characters and dialogue but a real downer for me.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the ARC as a Goodreads Giveaway. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this novel as I started it and much to my surprise, I liked it very much. In fact, I couldn't put it down once I started it.

Konrad's live-in boyfriend of four years breaks up with him and leads 33 year old Konrad to move to LA from London. He has money to do what he chooses, has a great body, and is part of the gay scene where ever he goes. His part-time job working for his father requires very little actual work or time, and he spends his time obsessively on social media, working out at the gym, doing drugs, drinking, clubbing, and chasing men who are no good for him. And yet at the same time he is incredibly self-aware. And incredibly bored with life. I couldn't help but care for him even as he made wrong decision after wrong decision.

This is a sad, darkly humorous story of a man who from the outside seems to have it all but inside is incredibly lonely and simply watching his life pass by.

[Barton Friedland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book critiques US / European modern gay male life. It is clearly a caricature, but one that will resonate for many. It follows the natural progression of the freedoms that have come with being out since the 1970s and its interplay with the pervasive nature of social media. It's not a happy story, but I think it is one worth reading and thinking about. I think the author has done a great service to shine a light on this topic as we collectively ask ourselves where to from here?

[Ceyrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I was hesitant with this one. I didn’t know what to make of it, and the first page, I almost put the book down. But I have to say, I really enjoyed it, it gave me Bridget Jones vibes, I loved it. Don’t get me wrong I hated the main character, and the lifestyle, the narcissism and the drugs. I also know people like this, which made it even more enjoyable, North Morgan has done a really great job here. The story follows Konrad Platt, he is heartbroken after his boyfriend dumped him that he moves to LA to get away from everything and everyone. Konrad has become jaded and what follows is his day to day life as he goes to the gym, parties, has sex, gets into a weird relationship, and yearns to be in a relationship. It’s all about the branding and how you curate your image on social media to make others jealous of your life.

‘In the gym, you don't have to say anything, you just have to work out and make studied eye contact (or not make eye contact at all) and someone will come up and talk to you eventually, if they like your triceps. Especially in America. Oh America. How do they bring you up like that? So forward, upbeat, and self-assured? I'm not really complaining. It's just that when you come talk to me, I'm a little bit scared.’

[Ultramike · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting read... I'm pretty sure it's satire but the main character is so unlikeable and doesn't grow or change or learn anything and doesn't seem to want to. I think that was the over all point. That there is this empty, shallow, lonely, self destructive subset of gay men who never find love, wouldn't know what to do with it IF they could get over themselves long enough to accept it into their lives. They spent too much time in the gym and on social media and have nothing to offer beyond the superficial. I found it hard to relate to but also sadly reflective of our community. I liked the writing style very much. It's reminiscent of Brett Easton Ellis and kind of feels like a 21st Century version of Less Than Zero but doesn't have depth of that book. Or the sexiness which was surprising.

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Into? by North Morgan, is an all too real depiction of the LGBTQ's self-imposed stigma towards dating, validation, and acceptance. Konrad Platt is heartbroken after his boyfriend dumps him for another man; setting his sights from London to Los Angeles. When he arrives in West Hollywood, he bounces around between friend circles, hook ups, and relationships. Konrad is far too jaded with his life, but he is also hopeful for a monogamous relationship with a loyal partner. With hurdles and romance drama along the way, Konrad's route to happiness isn't without struggle.

Into? is told to the reader through Konrad's eyes and I envisioned the story being told as a diary or a reality tv show confessional—Konrad is blunt and open about his feelings and thoughts as he treks along in West Hollywood. Into? doesn't really focus on a central theme or plotline, but is rather a coming-of-age depiction of Konrad's life. Konrad is good looking and pretty popular on Instagram—masking his depression through his constant need for validation. This theme is pretty rampant in the gay lifestyle because as children, we are continually ignored or not accepted due to our sexuality. We seek it out as adults through appearance, career, and sex. Konrad's story is very common in today's society.


Minor spoiler:
While Into? didn't really focus on a central plot, there was a key moment in the story when Konrad gets into a relationship. This moment, in my opinion, was the highlight of the story. I wish the story focused more on situations such as this arc, rather than a continuation of Konrad's day-to-day.

Overall, Into? is a fun, relatable, read that also can show the dark side and depressing side of dating in the gay community. If you're curious to hear more, I suggest picking it up. It's an easy, fast read that will surely leave an impression.

[Richard Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Into? by North Morgan is one of the best reads I have picked up in a long while. Morgan does a great job at capturing modern gay life. Konrad is a well developed character that is extremely relatable. I found myself thinking about my own life while reading much of this novel. Many of the experiences, fears and questions Konrad asks himself are spot on for modern day gay males.

I was eager to receive the novel in the mail and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I was able to stay up all night finishing the entire novel.

Definitely pick up a copy of this, you won’t regret it.

[Dennis Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got Into? this. I cannot believe I liked getting inside the head of this Instahot gay guy that I would never want anything to do with in real life since he seemed like such a jerk but I really did and, at times, I found myself even wanting to hook up with him—maybe even date him and save him from his tragically beautiful and meaningless existence. A sharp and satisfying satire of urban gay life.

[Joshua Dowling · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book was satire, but even if it was, it was incredibly frustrating to read. The main character was trash & as a gay man, reading this book made me feel a sense of internalized homophobia I have not felt since I was a teen.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those paying attention know that right now we all need some smart cynicism and timely escapism, well here you go. Smart is the key word here. Mr. Morgan’s perspective is one to pay attention to.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and relatable and bleak. I really enjoyed it.

[Corey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars because it was the titillating quick read I expected. Other than that, I found it to be pretty pathetic. I guess I'm struggling with why gay men should feel sorry for other hyper-masculine gay men with deeply internalized homophobic issues. I can understand this as an inherent societal issue affecting men, but for North Morgan to write a novel in which the reader is seemingly supposed to feel empathy for such a character is quite a slap in the face to the myriad issues faced by non-conforming LGBTQ.

I could even forgive all of this if the book was meant to be pure satire. But a quick look at Morgan's Instagram tells us that the period of self-loathing masked by perfectly filtered selfies is not a thing of the past but very much his present state of being. Morgan may be writing from experience (a very sad, depressed experience), but it is clearly not one in which he learned much of anything.

[Lightisreading · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF! I have no time to read a book with poor / no plot.
Rating ( One Star ).

[Michael Spikes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm in agreement that Morgan has really written a searing, life-like account of how it can feel sometimes to be a gay man in a society that is somewhat ironic, being that it now accepts you as you are on the outside, but doesn't totally own up to the pain caused by years of entrenched homophobia, coupled with a somewhat toxic masculine culture that is still trying to figure itself out. It also is a reflection of a society that continues to wrangle with a repressed view of human sexuality. We all are fascinated and titillated by it, but social morays keep expressions of it pretty secretive.

With that said, that's a high-level takeaway that I got from the book. On the surface, it's a frothy, fun read -- up until about the halfway point of the book, where then you realize that the main character is devoid of any real redeeming qualities. His actions are self-destructive, and borderline psychotic, and for a 33-34 year old man who is extremely privileged (works a well-paying job supplied by his fund-manager father from home at whatever hours he wants, has a toned body that everyone wants, and seems to have a bit of education, and common sense), I started to find his lack of self-confidence or worth annoying after awhile. While I intimately understand the reasons behind some of his actions and his reactions to them, I really would have thought them to be those of a 24 or 25 year old, still trying to find his way, not a guy over 30.

Overall, I would suggest reading the book for the many moments of "yep, I remember that" that you'll have if you're gay, but still having a hard time reconciling your ideas of what it means to be a man, along with those of being in love with another man, and have found yourself on one of the plethora of dating apps that are out there on a Friday night. But be aware that while the realness of the book may have you howling in a few places, you'll probably walk away from it feeling a little bitter, and ultimately kind of sad.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Into?" is pitched as a skeweringly funny satire about gay male culture in the age of social media, and it is that. Early on in the read, I commented that I wasn't sure how a book whose primary emotional note is "fun" made it into the Serious Literature reviews. That doesn't happen much! But the author pulls off an astonishingly effective slow dawn of horror as you realize that the self-aware trainwreck that you're reading about is not going to get better. It just keeps on going. So under all the Oscar Wilde wit and the "we've all been there" breakup feels yawns a terrible chasm of futility, and it rises up and swamps you just at the end, without the author having to do anything at all. Very clever writing, very funny book, possibly one of the darkest books I've read this year (and I just finished a book about failed democracies and civil unrest). Yeaaaargh, well done, aaargh. I would recommend this book to everyone and also nobody ever.

[North Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

But wow, what a book. I will never forget. A book that is most pleasing to me in my career.

[Vin · Rating 1 out of 5]

1,5 stars

not Into her… you could skip half of these chapters and we’d have read the same book 🙊

[Matt Chisling (MattyandtheBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why does a book that involves being so wrong feel so right?

Into? is a blistering satire (I think?) of the post-AIDS, tanned, toned, tight circuit of gay men who live a life of excess that could be an absolutely maddening read - that swallowed me whole.

North Morgan's novel is a slice of "life" (barely living) of one Konrad Platt, a devilishly handsome, wildly un-ambitious Hollywood gay who is looking to disconnect following a challenging break-up. Readers will spend a year in the life of Konrad, whose social media accounts are blowing up, whose one-offs with strangers are steamy yet vapid, and whose attempts to find new social connection following a move into L.A. is at times shocking at at times quite sad. Told in a nihilistic narrative voice that reminds us of some of Bret Easton Ellis' finest characters, we see Konrad date, mate, succumb, succeed, scroll apps and socialize with other Ken Doll-esque characters - and if the idea of spending time with a bunch of frustratingly surface-level gay men horrifies you - you may be checked out on this one.

But don't let yourself be fooled. This novel both celebrates and criticizes that audacious lifestyle, sticking a big question mark on the social norms that gay men idealize in a moment in time where it feels like political issues are on the back burner (the 2018 publication date of this one is important to remember here). It would be too easy to roll your eyes at the story here. You're allowed to be a little naughty and have a good time with Konrad and his hi-jinxes, while also acknowledging where he falls short. Like the characters in Into?, allow yourself to know it's wrong and have a little fun with this one anyway. Come on, you know you want to...

[Nick Goodsell (goodyreads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Check out my full book review HERE on my blog!

Let me start off by saying that this book was kind of a buzzkill. Not that it’s horrible and not worth reading, but because it really makes you stop and realize things in your life; like social status and social media and reputation, are so totally emphasized, but in the end, how meaningful is it all really?

The story revolves around the main character, Konrad Platt, who is a 34 year old man who is moving to Los Angeles to get away from his ex and his new boyfriend. Konrad continues the urban gay party scene, but admits to himself how he wants something more in his life. He wants to find love and be happy, and settle down and get out of the party scene. The problem is, with his own insecurities and obsession with his image through his followers on Instagram and being seen at these parties keep dragging him back in.

Konrad is a like-able character, and with his admissions of how meaningless the whole gay party scene is, you want to cheer him on and hope he finds someone to settle down with. It was just so frustrating when he would go back to old habits; taking drugs, stalking hot men on social media, following strict rules on being another attractive face on Instagram or Facebook, and messaging one night stands on Grindr to meet and hook up with. Even messaging the guys on the social platforms; it was always a game with ‘he says this’ so he actually means ‘this’ and in all honesty...it makes me depressed about the possibility of trying to be a gay man dating in this society. I’m what Konrad refers to as a “non scene” gay and it seems like they just get written off as boring and not worth any time. If they weren’t a “masc” partying gay man with muscles and a good social media following, you’re not worth it. Like I said before, Konrad is aware of all the shallowness and insignificance of it all, but he still lets it consume his life and make it seem like the most important thing.

The book makes me stressed about how unaware I am about how gay dating seems to go now, especially with social media so heavily involved, and makes me worry about myself. Konrad wonders at one point if being a gay male in this world means a constant stream of polygamy and partying, never actually settling down and meeting someone meaningful and I sincerely hope not. I think you just need to seriously separate yourself from all that, and try to find something else to give your life meaning.

So in conclusion, this book is a unique read; it has a great subject matter on the gay partying scene, and how I have even more determination to never get into it, but it does have an interesting aspect of the struggles of dating and finding acceptance and meaning in your life and makes you wonder what’s truly important to out all our focus on; our happiness or how influential we are on our social media

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a self-admitted fruit fly, I guess I am viewing this story and character through rose colored lenses, and see only a fun lifestyle, which I envy. I am sure that being a fabulous gay man, living in the very hip Venice beach isn't 100%, there must be some disappointments, but the character only seems to dip into occasional malaise.. It's hopeful and "it gets better" rings throughout this novel... But I suppose this shallow hooking-up is cliche and not accurate for most gay guys... This is the first of it's kind for me, reminiscent of Virginia Woolf or perhaps someone more flamboyant. I wish there were more books like this one... Recommendations? I also wish that society in general would look more critically at heteronormativity, because it hurts everyone. Straight people don't need to live a certain way, and gay people don't need to live a certain way... On the other hand, being an outsider to this Grindr lifestyle, I viewed this novel as a "fantasy rap" video, looking into something that is really alien to me. Now I'm dying to visit LA and gaze... ; 0

[Gochrisgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here’s a fun fresh and bold voice in unabashedly gay male fiction. The first person perspective pulls you into the novel and won’t let go. This is a beach read but also a survey of masculinity and a cultural time capsule of urban gay men of a certain social circle today with the apps, Instagram and all those flights to Miami. I’ll quibble like a bad guest at a gay pool party and say that I wish the secondary characters were more developed to give a stronger sense of rising action. Still from Provincetown to Palm Springs, this book should be in your beach bags this summer, boys.

[Jim Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

What is the point of reading 300+ pages about the empty life of an LA gay man? We all know this life—anonymous hook ups via Grnder, recreational drugs, circuit parties, and the gym. This is not an interesting or important life. While I realize this book is supposed to be a satire, I only chuckled twice. I also found myself skipping sections due to the mind-numbing repetition. There’s a lot of gay self-hatred in this book, and I regret I wasted a few hours reading it, when I could have been hooking up and watching porn instead (kidding)!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was super fast and enjoyable read. I really wanted it to go a certain way and have a happier ending but that’s not what happened. Overall the book was still good and I literally finished it so fast, so I have to give it that.

[Joel Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oof. As bleak as it ought to be.

[Tyler Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not into this.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Into? as a question leaves a lot to be desired. Into what? Please expound so I can properly answer. Into? by North Morgan, as a novel, adroitly tackles that one world question in the world of the gay party circuit scene, and Instagays, where that one question can send someone off into whirlwind of partying, drugs, sex, longing, and acute loneliness. Konrad Platt leaves London for LA to start over after his long-term boyfriend breaks up with him for the guy he was cheating on Konrad with. Konrad, German by birth, with an American father, is in his 30s with "vicious" abs and muscles, as do all of his friends, online "friends," and everyone he associates with do. He spends at least 6 days a week in the gym lusting after the straight boys, bros, and the "masc musc" boys. He fills, or tries to fill, his days with little substance, looking for guys online, often falling into a drugged stupor to sleep, and then more to go out. But all the Konrad actually wants is a connection, someone to be with, someone to fill his life with. Konrad tries to understand the pull of the heteronormative, in acting, in style, in everything, of gay men, and why that's something that is desired, even if it's all a front. At first I thought Into? was a satire. And it can be read as that. The clichés of a certain type of gay lifestyle abound. But clichés can actually sometimes be true. The repetitive structure of rinse and repeat also plays into this. But Morgan has created a character in Konrad that is introspective, and doesn't like what he sees. Instead of Konrad coming off as callous and narcissistic, he is in a lot of pain and trapped in a cycle that he can't get out of, if he actually wants out of it. Konrad may not actually be into it at all, but he's in it.

[Chris Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was as hilarious as it was heartbreakingly sad, and easily one of the most scathing critiques of gay culture that I've read. I'm not sure if that means I just haven't read enough or this book was simply that critical. Either way, a lot of it rang true, even as someone who is not anything close to an #instagay or gay bro. I think what resonated was how hopeless it all - gestures around - feels, yet we continue to take part in it because the alternative is an even greater loneliness, and maybe just maybe there is still a sliver of hope that we might find something better.

That said, I would caution against believing everything you read in this book or at the very least looking at it from just Morgan's vantage point because, in all honesty, we're not all like this and gay culture, despite how infuriating it can be at times, is a life raft and safe haven for so many of us. There is a pound of good alongside every ounce of bad.

The other thing I will say for this book is that its execution is a little different from most things I've read with it being (as someone else pointed out) an almost stream of consciousness and not really plot-driven. For some, this might be off-putting, especially if you're expecting to go somewhere specific. This is not that, but instead a portrait of a life (and culture) in crisis, told through moments that collectively paint a larger picture.

[Legagneur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would be as vapid and shallow as North's Instagram. Fortunately for all of us, he delivered - and you can bet he wrote every word with that wry smile that plasters his near every IG post.

INTO gives us a glimpse into the terrifying life of some white, dick-living homo who seems just straight enough to pass in this awful, awful world. Woe is him. It's vain, it's cringeworthy, and it's entertaining as hell. All the while, North pulls it off in such a hilariously self-aware and ironic manner. It's so easy to roll your eyes at the entire book, and if anything, I think that's the entire point. If this book didn't leave you grimacing at the main character while simultaneously rolling your eyes at his perceived problems, then here's some advice for you: Don't take yourself so seriously. It's clear that North doesn't.